MIMG New Student Resources: Transfer-Admitted Students

Presentation Copy: Transfer-Admitted MIMG New Student Orientation

About the MIMG Major (B.S.):

What is the MIMG Major / What Do MIMG Students Study?

  • The MIMG major focus on infectious diseases & immune responses, the study of bacterial & viral mechanisms, & the integration of molecular genetics with microbiological systems.
  • Big questions you’ll explore:
    • How do infections start and spread?
    • Why do some people get sicker than others?
    • How do genes and immune responses shape health?
  • Develop core scientist skills:
    • Reading and discussing scientific papers
    • Designing experiments and asking testable questions
    • Analyzing data and interpreting results
    • Communicating findings in writing and presentations
  • Get hands-on research experience (a major highlight):
    • Guaranteed authentic research through Path 1 research-immersion courses (2 quarters required)
    • Take lab-based courses and present at an undergraduate research symposium

Why Students Choose MIMG:

  • Training that’s directly relevant to today’s biggest challenges: infectious diseases, cancer, climate change, and food security
  • Research experience with award-winning faculty and opportunities to publish in academic journals as an undergraduate
  • Diverse specialization options through the major with electives covering fields including cell & gene therapy, virology, parasitology, genomics, microscopy, human genetics, & quantitative regulatory biology

Career Pathways after MIMG:

We recommend checking out MIMG's undergraduate overview, MIMG major requirements, and MIMG career resources to get insight into the MIMG major as well.

MIMG Major Preparation/Lower-Division Requirements (Life Sciences Core Curriculum)

  • Students must take each course for a letter grade and earn a C- or better.
  • Key areas:
    • Biology (1 series)
    • Calculus (1 series)
    • Chemistry (1 series)
    • Statistics (1 course)
    • Physics (1 series)

Life Science/Biology Series

All four courses required. 

Calculus Series

1 Calculus series:

***AP/IB credit may apply. If students completed MATH 31A and 31B and these transfer over as a minimum of 12.0 units, MATH 32A can potentially be exempt. 

Chemistry Series

1 Chemistry series:

Statistics Course*

1 course required:

  • STATS 13 or LIFESCI 40

*STATS 10 can be accepted for the STATS 13/LIFESCI 40 MIMG requirement only if students have completed this course at a community college or another institution prior to starting at UCLA. STATS 10 is not considered an equivalent course and is not an accepted alternate otherwise. 

Physics Series

1 Physics series required:

MIMG Major Requirements (Upper-Division, 10 Courses Minimum)

Students will complete these upper-division MIMG major requirements by graduation (by the end of your “Degree Expected Term”). 

5 Required Foundation Courses:

  • MIMG 101 - Introductory Microbiology (4 units)

  • CHEM 153A - Biochemistry (4 units)

  • LIFESCI 107- Genetics (5 units)

  • CHEM 153B - or - MIMG 132- Cell Biology (4 units)

  • MIMG 185A- Immunology (5 units)

MIMG Research Series (Two-Quarter Series)

Path 1: Research Immersion Series (Automatic Option)

  • MIMG 103AL - Research Immersion Lab in Virology (5 units) + MIMG 103BL - Advanced Research Analysis in Virology (4 units)

  • -OR-

  • MIMG 109AL - Research Immersion Lab in Microbiology (5 units) + MIMG 109BL - Advanced Research Analysis in Microbiology (4 units)

Path 2 (Independent Research and Application Required):

  • Path 2 requires that students already be working in an MIMG lab or UCLA faculty lab conducting MIMG research. Please see MIMG’s Undergrad. Research Guide for suggested steps and resources. 

  • Path 2 is not guaranteed, and students must apply to Path 2 no later than Fall of their senior year. 

  • Path 2 students are enrolled in 2 classes (seminar + research contract course) per quarter enrolled in Path 2 (4 courses total). 

MIMG Focus Elective #1

Students will choose two total “Focus Electives” to complete from our MIMG Focus Electives list.

Note: Any single course can be used in only ONE category of the major. For example, students cannot use CHEM 153B nor MIMG 132 as both a Foundation course and an elective. If students take both CHEM 153B and MIMG 132, the second course completed will be counted toward the Focus Elective requirement unless requested otherwise. 

MIMG Focus Elective #2

Students will choose two total “Focus Electives” to complete from our MIMG Focus Electives list.

Note: Any single course can be used in only ONE category of the major. For example, students cannot use CHEM 153B nor MIMG 132 as both a Foundation course and an elective. If students take both CHEM 153B and MIMG 132, the second course completed will be counted toward the Focus Elective requirement unless requested otherwise. 

MIMG General Elective 

Students will choose one total “General Elective” to complete from our MIMG General Electives list.

Note: Any single course can be used in only ONE category of the major. For example, students cannot use CHEM 153B nor MIMG 132 as both a Foundation course and an elective. If students take both CHEM 153B and MIMG 132, the second course completed will be counted toward the Focus Elective requirement unless requested otherwise. 

Pre-Health Planning

What is “Pre-Health”?

  • “Pre-Health” is an umbrella term, referring to the pathways that prepare students for careers in healthcare professions (i.e. medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, dental, physical therapy, veterinary fields, etc.). 
  • UCLA has several Pre-Health services and Pre-Health resources for students. 
  • Pre-Health students MUST consult individual professional schools in addition to UCLA general guidance as professional schools can theoretically change their individual admission requirements at any time. 

Pre-Health Requirements Overview

  • Pre-Health students applying to health professional programs such as medical school will have additional Pre-Health requisite requirements needed for application. Many of these requirements will align with the Life Science Core.
  • Pre-Health students MUST consult individual health professional schools in addition to this general guidance.
  • A.P. coursework does not typically apply toward Pre-Health/Pre-Med requirements. Only community college or four-year institution coursework is considered “college-level” for medical school or Pre-Health purposes. If students completed requirements for A.P. credit, students may need to take additional coursework at UCLA or other institutions such as community colleges to complete. 

Pre-Health Requirements 

  • 3 Writing (“W”), English (ENGL), and/or Comparative Literature (COM LIT) courses. A.P. coursework does not typically apply.
  • 3 courses of Math/Calculus and Statistics (usually* covered by Life Science Core/MIMG calculus and statistics requirements). A.P. coursework does not typically apply.
  • Biology Series with Lab (“1 year of Biology” covered by Life Science Core).
  • Chemistry Series with Labs (i.e. Life Science Core series in addition to Chem 14CL or 30BL - Organic Chem. lab). 
  • Physics Series with Lab (covered by Life Science Core).
  • Students should please review additional requirements by field. 
    • Example: Recommended for Medical School
      • PSYCH 10 (Psychology) - MCAT preparation.
      • SOCIOL 01 (Sociology) - MCAT preparation.
      • Spanish is recommended for competitiveness, especially if practicing in California. 

Pre-Health Course Planning Requirements Support

Pre-Health Application & Career Planning

Getting Involved in MIMG Undergraduate Research

Biomedical Research Minor

The Biomedical Research Minor is an interdepartmental minor that is designed to involve students in laboratory research early in their college career.

Minor Highlights

  • Training as a research scientist
  • Informed lab placement
  • Undergraduate research community
  • Integration of social sciences and humanities
  • Courses in biomedical research skills & concepts, ethics, journal club & data presentation seminars (~ 33 - 34 total units)
  • Complete a thesis and research presentation
  • 80% of alumni continue to graduate school; career paths also include lab research, or health professional schools

Applying to the Minor

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Take 1 Introductory course (BMD RES 5HA & M6H available in Fall 2026)
  • Transfer-admitted students admitted in Fall 2025 quarter must apply no later than Winter 2027 quarter (Week 4 - Week 7)
  • Students may apply while currently enrolled in the Introductory course  

MIMG Major Frequently Asked Questions (“F.A.Q.’s”)

  • What are MIMG’s “Path 1” & “Path 2”?
    • “Path 1” & “Path 2” describe the different ways students can fulfill MIMG’s upper division research requirement for the major. 
  • Can students choose between “Path 1” & “Path 2”?
    • All MIMG students are automatically Path 1, and a majority of MIMG students are Path 1. 
    • Students must already be engaged in MIMG research in a faculty mentor's lab/meet eligibility requirements and apply to Path 2. Path 2 is not guaranteed.

MIMG Individual Advising Sessions: What to Expect During Orientation

  • MIMG advisors will meet individually with incoming transfer-admitted students during UCLA’s New Student Orientation to review incoming MIMG major credit, remaining requirements, and Fall 2026 enrollment recommendations. 
  • These meetings will be brief, and we’ll focus on timely information and key questions regarding Fall 2026 enrollment. 
  • MIMG students will typically take 3 classes (12+ units) per quarter for a full-time courseload. Two classes will be MIMG major requirements, and 1 class will be a non-MIMG/UCLA College requirement. 
  • New Student Advisors (NSAs) can support with timely guidance during your orientation enrollment time. NSAs have training about MIMG requirements and have a copy of your MIMG course recommendations for Fall quarter. 

Advising Support Beginning Fall 2026 Quarter

Switching Your Major Beginning Winter 2027 Quarter:

  • Students who were admitted to UCLA as MIMG majors do not need to do anything to officially declare MIMG. There is no "Pre-MIMG" designation. Students admitted as MIMG majors (or who switch into MIMG during Orientation before their first Fall quarter) will automatically be deemed MIMG Majors in Path 1.
  • Non-MIMG transfer-admitted life science majors who meet or are approaching MIMG major switch requirements can switch to MIMG beginning Winter 2027 quarter (after Fall 2026 grades are finalized). 

    • Transfer students must be admitted to UCLA as a Life Science major to be eligible to switch into the MIMG major (complete list of Life Science majors here). This policy has no exceptions and is documented in the Transfer Admission Guide. For more information: Transfer Admission | UCLA Undergraduate Admission. 

    • Please note that Biochemistry is NOT considered a Life Science major at UCLA. Transfer-Admitted Biochemistry students are not permitted to switch to the MIMG Major nor double-major in MIMG.  

  • MIMG transfer-admitted students interested in switching to a different major should please contact the appropriate major department advisor in addition to their UCLA college advisor to inquire about switching majors starting Fall 2026 quarter. Eligibility requirements will vary by major, and students typically need to wait until Winter 2027 quarter to switch (after Fall 2026 grades are finalized). 

UCLA Resources:

MIMG Student Resources:

For questions about this information, support navigating resources, or to inquire about alternate formats of the presentation, please contact MIMG advisors via email (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) with your UID.